The Vitamins

“The Vitamins: Fundamental Aspects in Nutrition and Health, Seventh Edition” presents both overviews and in-depth discussions of the sources, chemistry, metabolism and functions of these essential nutrients in physiology and health. Originally written 35 years ago as an upper-level collegiate text, “The Vitamins,” through its several revised editions, has become the leading recognized comprehensive reference text in the fields of nutrition and food science. The seventh edition is designed to support advanced instruction on the subject, and provide both metabolic detail plus key recent research findings that have been pivotal in shaping understanding of the roles of this class of essential nutrients in the health of humans and animals. Comprised of three thematic sections: Perspectives on the Vitamins in Nutrition, (history of discovery, general properties and impacts of deficiencies and excess), The Individual Vitamins (their respective chemistries, metabolism and metabolic functions), and Using the Current Knowledge of the Vitamins, (dietary sources, global needs, assessment of vitamin status) “The Vitamins: Fundamental Aspects in Nutrition and Health, Seventh Edition” opens with a short section that presents suggestions for using this book as a desk reference, and a teaching guide for classroom/on-line instruction. Updates to discussions—particularly of metabolism, functions and clinical aspects—along with increased coverage of vitamins as dietary supplements including the latest regulatory information, add value to this edition. Further building upon previous editions of this widely used reference text, readers will gain updated information on the inclusion and interpretation of recent clinical research findings relevant to all vitamins, particularly vitamins A, D, E, K, C, thiamin, folate and vitamin B12. The latest information on nutritional deficiencies and ecological approaches to dealing with them along with a section on vitamin-drug interactions will also be included. Readers will also encounter a revised table of signs of vitamin deficiencies in humans and animals, updated information on the roles of the gut microbiome in vitamin synthesis and metabolism, increased focus on vitamins as nutritional supplements, increased focus on vitamin stabilities in foods including processing and cooking losses and a decision tree addressing the question: “Could I benefit from a vitamin supplement?.” At the end of each chapter, case studies, a quiz and recommended reading list will be included.